Home comfort for Braga as Shakhtar come calling
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Article summary
On form this is a no-brainer, with Braga going into the game on the back of their worst defeat in five years while Shakhtar hit eight. But the Portuguese side's home form provides hope.
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- Braga lost 5-1 at Benfica on Friday, their worst defeat since 2010
- Visitors Shakhtar go into the first leg on back of an 8-1 victory
- Braga are 13 matches unbeaten at home, winning ten during that run
- The Ukrainian side lifted the trophy in 2009; Braga were losing finalists in 2011
- Shakhtar were convincing winners in both of these teams' previous meetings
Possible lineups
Braga: Matheus; Baiano, André Pinto, Ricardo Ferreira, Marcelo Goiano; Luíz Carlos, Vukčević, Mauro, Rafa, Pedro Santos; Hassan.
Out: Rui Fonte (leg), Josué (thigh), Alan (muscle)
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Josué, Vukčević
Shakhtar: Pyatov; Srna, Ordets, Rakitskiy, Ismaily; Stepanenko, Malyshev, Marlos, Kovalenko, Taison; Ferreyra.
Out: Kucher (suspended), Azevedo (knee)
Doubtful: Rakitskiy (meniscus), Shevchuk (unspecified)
Misses next match if booked: Ismaily, Rakitskiy, Srna, Marlos, Stepanenko
Paulo Fonseca, Braga coach
I expect a difficult game against very tough opponents with plenty of European experience: they are among the favourites to win this season's UEFA Europa League. They have plenty of quality in attack, but this is not mission impossible for us. We want to win and keep a clean sheet. We are ready, motivated and believe we have what it takes.
Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar coach
[On Braga's weekend defeat] These are two completely different competitions, so there's no point comparing these games. The teams that are left in the Europa League are even so everything can be decided by a single detail.
Braga remain a very solid side. We beat them [in 2010] thanks to greater experience. Modern Braga are a team who are bound to perform, a very reliable side. I want to single out two of their players: [Rafa] and Pedro Santos.
Weekend results
Benfica 5-1 Braga (Mitroglou 17 71, Jonas 37pen, Pizzi 40, Samaris 75; Pedro Santos 90+3pen)
Shakhtar 8-1 Metalist (Taison 6 54 57, Ismaily 27, Ferreyra 31, Marlos 67, Eduardo 86, Bernard 89; Kornev 16)
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Braga: LWWLLW
Shakhtar: WLWWLW
Did you know?
The sides met in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage with Mircea Lucescu's Shakhtar winning 3-0 away and 2-0 in Ukraine. Read more in our match background.